Multiple-way selector switch



Oct. 7 1924. v 1,510,488

- F. H. MADSEN MULTIPLE WAY SELECTOR SWITCH Filed Anril 7, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Oct. 7 1924. 1,510,488

F H. MADSEN MULTIPLE WAY SELECTOR SWITCH Filed April 7, 1923 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Get. 7, 1924 UNITED STATES FRANK H. MADSEN, OF SYDNEY,

NEW SOUTH WALES. AUSTRALIA.

MUi'lTIPLE-WAY snnnoroa SWITCH.

Application filed April 7,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that FRANK HAROLD Miinsnn. subject of the King of Great Britain and Ireland, residinc at 19 Queen Street, Newtown, bydney, in the State of New South l/V ales, Commonwealth of Australia, has invented certain new and useful Improvements in lVIultiple-VVay Selector Switches of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to multiple way selector switches and the object of the invention is to provide a simple, compact and easily manufactured switch by means of which, for example, the voltages between any two phases or any one phase and neutral of a 3 phase alternating current circuit may be easily read on the one volt meter. 7

The switch is not, however, confined to 3 phase A. C. circuits for its application but may be applied to two or more circuits for any desired purpose or to any circuit orcircuits whether A. C. or D. C. of any number of phases and wires.

The invention comprises a cylindrical casing on a circular base with a removable cover, all constructed. suitable insulating material. In the base and the cover are the required number of symmetrically disposed opposing contacts.

E ch contact in the cover is electrical y connected to the corresponding contact in the base and to the required phase or wire of the circuit. Rotatably mounted witin as the casing is a circular drum carrying two insulated slip rings adapted to engage spring contacts or wipers mounted in the cylindrical. casing. One of the slip ringsis connected to a contact on the top of the 1.0 drum while the other is connected to a con tact on the bottom which is so arranged that when the upper drum contact coincides with the upper of a pair of opposing contacts in the cover and base of the casing the lower 4:? disc contact is in conjunction with the lower of another pair of opposing contacts so that, for example, by connecting a voltmeter to the brushes in the side of the casing and two phases, one to each of the pairs of opposing contacts in contact with the disc the voltage between those phases may be read.

fine form of switch constructed according to invention suitable for reading t e vo tages at a 3 P s A.- C- circui s 1923. Serial No. 630,671.

drawin illustrated in the accompanying in which Figure l is a perspective view of the complete switch.

Figure 2 is a sectional perspective view 50 showing the construction of the switch.

Figure 3 is a. perspective view of the cover of the switch.

Figure l is a perspective View of the rotating disc showing slip rings and contacts.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of the cylindrical casing andbase.

Figure 6 is a sectional elevation of the rotatable disc.

Figure 7 is a plan of same.

And Figure 8 is an enlarged part sectional elevation of a suitable form of spring wiper shown in Figure 5.

The base 9 with which the cylindrical casing 10 is integral is fitted to the rear side of the switchboard together with the removable cover 11. Symmetrically disposed in the base 9 are the three contacts 12, 12 and 12 which are electrically connected to the opposingcontacts 13, 13", and 13 in the 30 cover 11 by means of the conductors 14 and the screw terminals 15*, 15". and 15, which also hold the cover ii in position.

The drum 16 mounted on the shaft 17 is rotatable within the casing and carries two slip rings 18 and 18, which have connect ed thereto spring controlled contacts 19 and 2'0, one on the upper and the other on the lower side of the drum 16.

The contacts 19 and 20 are positioned 120 apart so that any pair of the contacts 12 12 and 12 or 13, 13 and 13 may be brought into connection with the wipers 21 and 22 through the slip rings 18 and 18".

[a 0pc1cti0 n..--For reading the voltages of a 3 phase A. U. circuit each one of the phases would be connected to the terminals l5, l5 and 15 and a voltmeter to the terminals 21 and 22 so that when the drum 16 is rotated by means 01" the hand wheel 23 on the shaft 17 the voltage between any two phases is obtained. The voltage between any phase and earth or neutral can be obtained by connecting one side of the voltmeter to earth or neutral instead of to one of the terminals 21 or 22. It can be readily seen that the switch may be adapted for use with two 3 phase circuits or a circuit of any number of phases wires,

For a switch carrying heavier currents U9 the construction may he modified by attaching the slip rings to separate concentrically mounted drums and normally holding "the drum apart by spring so as to press the contacts 19 and 20 (which in this case are solid) against the symmetrically disposed contacts 12 and 13.

The handle 23 which may be placed on either end of the shaft 17 is provided with a suitable indicator such as a spring controlled plunger 24 adapted to engage symmetricallypositioned depressions 25.

I claim.

1. An improved multiple way selector switch comprising a drum rot-atably mounted within an insulating casing, slip rings mounted on said drum, wipers passing through the peripheral wall of said casing to make contact with said slip rings, a series of symmetrically disposed contacts in each end wall of said casing, opposing contacts in each series being electrically conlec ed con nected and adapted to make s c or the purtact with said slip rings as and pose herein set out.

2. An improved multiple way selector switch comprising a cylindrical. casing, a plurality of symmetrically disposed contacts therein, a cover with a corresponding number of contacts electrically connected with those first-mentioned, a drum rotatable within the casing having slip rings, spring controlled contacts on opposite sides of the -drum connected with the slip rings and 

